With the 2023–24 men’s college basketball campaign winding down and the NCAA Tournament little more than a month away, St. Mary’s College and UC Irvine are the leading contenders among California schools to bring home regular-season conference championships.
St. Mary’s is in an enviable position, atop the West Coast Conference with a perfect 12–0 record in league play and a 13-game winning streak after a 103–59 romp over visiting Pepperdine on Feb. 15. With just four regular-season games remaining, the Gaels own a 2½-game cushion over the two teams tied for second place, San Francisco and Gonzaga, each at 9–2.
